Elderly missing Peachtree City man found dead near home
Missing man found dead near home after 5-day search
The search is now over for a missing elderly man with dementia who disappeared from his Fayette County home just days before Christmas. Peachtree City police say they found the body of Al Novotnak Friday afternoon in a wooded area not far from his Interlochen neighborhood home where he was last seen on Dec. 22. They have been searching nonstop for the last five days.
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - The search for an elderly Fayette County man who went missing days before Christmas has come to a tragic end.
Peachtree City police announced Friday that they found the body of 80-year-old Al Novotnak in a wooded area near his Interlochen neighborhood home, where he was last seen on Dec. 22.
"Obviously, this is not what we wanted," said Novotnak’s nephew, Jim Cox.
The discovery has left the Fayette County community grieving the loss of Novotnak, who suffered from dementia and wandered away from his home five days ago.
Efforts to locate him included an extensive search involving community volunteers, emergency responders, and even someone using an ATV to comb nearby golf courses.
"It’s devastating that he has been gone for so long," said Addie Metarko, a neighbor.
Novotnak had disappeared once before, on Dec. 17, but was found hours later in a neighbor’s garage. Less than a week later, family and friends were once again searching for him, holding out hope for a similar outcome.
"He was a wonderful man," Cox said. "Loving guy, loved his family, loved all of his grandkids, nieces, and nephews."
As days passed, optimism turned to sorrow with Friday’s news.
"We are so thankful for the community that came out to help, the police, fire, EMS, and rescue teams for all that they did," Cox added.
The circumstances surrounding Novotnak’s death remain under investigation.
PREVIOUS STORY
The search intensified Friday morning for Al Novotnak, an elderly man with dementia who has been missing since Dec. 22. Novotnak vanished from his home in the Interlochen neighborhood of Fayette County just days before Christmas, leaving his family and the community deeply concerned for his safety.
RECENT STORY: New photo of Peachtree City missing man with Alzheimer's
Peachtree City police have been working tirelessly for five days to locate the 79-year-old, who wandered away for the second time this month. On Dec. 17, Novotny disappeared but was found shortly after inside a nearby garage. This time, however, efforts to locate him have been met with more challenges.
Authorities are canvassing the neighborhood on foot, utilizing drones, and deploying canine search teams to comb through the area. Investigators say it’s possible Novotnak may have received assistance from someone and could be outside Fayette County or even out of state.
Albert "Al" Novotnak (Peachtree City Police Department)
"We’re looking at all possibilities," Peachtree City Police said. "Given the timeframe, he could still be in the area or have traveled farther than we initially expected."
Neighbors have joined the search. Many have expressed growing concern as days pass without any sign of Novotny, who missed spending Christmas with his family.
"This is heartbreaking, especially at this time of year," one neighbor shared. "We just want to bring him home safe."
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Al Novotnak’s whereabouts to contact Peachtree City Police immediately.